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Focus on Co-op
Suppliers: Dr. Chang Naturals
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by Suzanne Fisher
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In Honest Weight's HaBA
department, bottles of deep red juice called Dr. Chang Naturals
Chiberry sit quietly on the shelf. While this elixir is traditional
medicine, it is offered to us in a new and pure manner, and is locally
produced. The berries are grown on an organic local farm located in the
Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. It is an ancient remedy, but
Dr. Chang Naturals formulates it in a nontraditional way, as juice
extracted from fresh and/or frozen berries.
The schizandra berry from which it is made is called a 5-flavor berry,
tasting sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent or acrid. Kevin Johnston
in HaBA describes it as a berry taste mixed with pizza sauce flavor. I
think it is more like concentrated cranberry juice with strong herbal
influences. However it is perceived, the juice has a complex and
intriguing flavor unlike anything else I have ever had.
Chinese medicine uses food as medicine and medicine as food. Called
"the ultimate super berry," schizandra berries are considered a true
medicinal, yet can be used as a flavoring for food and drink.
Schizandra berries have been studied in China for years and have been
found to have liver and blood cleansing properties. Ron Teeguarden,
well-known Taoist practitioner, says that the schizandra berry
possesses all five energies and all three treasures, and enters all
twelve of the meridians of the body in traditional Chinese medicine.
The traditional way of using schizandra has been to dry the berries,
then grind and extract or use it in powder form in herbal mixes.
According to Chinese medicine it is thought to have balancing
properties for the body, helping it to maintain equilibrium and optimal
health.
Schizandra is also believed to promote mental and emotional well being.
It is said to increase energy and focus, and has been used by the
Russian military and athletes competing internationally to give them an
edge over their competitors. Chinese athletes use it for the same
purpose.
Dr. Chang, owner of the schizandra berry farm and Chiberry business,
came to the United States as a young man to study agriculture. While
still a student, he purchased his farm, and at the suggestion of a
friend who is knowledgeable in Chinese medicinal practices, he began
growing organic schizandra berries. He eventually founded his
restaurant Amherst Chinese, (for which he also grows organic vegetables
in season) and began selling a schizandra berry tonic drink made of the
fresh berries there. After this he began bottling a combination of the
juice and pureé into Chiberry to sell at stores and co-ops
locally.
Dr. Chang, still vigorous in his 80s, labors in his schizandra berry
vineyard. At the farm on the Connecticutt River in the upper Pioneer
Valley, schizandra berries ripen from late August until late September
or early October, depending on weather conditions. (Some recent years
have had small crops due to climate fluctuations.) They are harvested,
and while a few are used fresh, the rest are frozen within hours of
hand picking for later processing. The berries are then used as needed
for production of Chiberry.
Currently the juice is available in 16 oz. bottles, blended with
filtered water or with water and a touch of agave, which will soon be
changed to honey. It is not meant or priced to be a drink by itself,
but is designed to be consumed at the rate of an ounce or slightly less
per day, either in water or other drinks or foods.
Dr. Chang's goal has been to supply co-ops and stores within a radius
of a hundred miles of his farm, and in New York City. His company does
not sell to United Natural Foods or other distributors because he
prefers to maintain control of how his product is marketed. We are
fortunate to be within the circle of availability to have Chiberry for
sale in our Co-op. It fits well into the spectrum of what Honest Weight
is all about when it comes to food and health: It is local, organic and
good for us on many different levels.
Chiberry stands on its own as a time tested, traditional way to promote
better balance within. In this new and easy to use form, it is perfect
for mixing in summertime drinks and foods. Join me in enjoying its
benefits!
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